gates of both the town and the citadel to be kept open once more in the hours of daylight. I’d only been there about a week when he began to speak about going south on a hunting expedition in search of wolves and the great- horned sheep forced down from the mountains by hunger and the winter cold. I encouraged him — even offered to go with him. But, as I suspected and hoped he would, he ordered me to stay behind. He’d already found tasks for me like drilling some of his guards. He joked that he’d be leaving plenty of loyal officers behind just in case I’d any thoughts of grabbing Kabul for myself.
‘After Kamran left, I just carried out my orders, careful to do nothing to excite comment. I also wanted to be sure that he had really gone for a few days.Then, towards late afternoon on the fourth day — with no sign of Kamran returning that night — I made my move. D’you remember from our boyhood that small courtyard over on the eastern side of the citadel with along one side of it a series of vaulted rooms where grain and wine were stored?’
Humayun nodded. Suddenly, the dusty little courtyard with its row of storerooms that he and his brothers had enjoyed exploring, trying to drive their dagger tips into the casks so they could taste the wine, was so vivid in his mind he could almost smell the mingled aromas of wine and grain.
‘Well, I had found out that Kamran had modified some of those storerooms to make apartments where Akbar, together with Maham Anga and her son, was being held under guard. I made my way there quietly with four of my most loyal men. When we reached the courtyard, my men concealed themselves behind some large grain storage jars. Through the spy-hole that had been made in the door, I told the two guards on duty inside that as the boy’s uncle, I wished to visit him. Recognising me, they opened the door.As I engaged them in conversation, my men rushed out, overcame them, then bound and gagged them.
‘My greatest difficulty was with Maham Anga — she tried to draw a dagger on me and started screaming. I easily took the weapon from her — it was only later that she told me it was poisoned — but it was far harder to quieten her shrieks. I had to place my hand over her mouth and tell her again and again that I meant Akbar no harm. . that I had come with your knowledge and approval to rescue them all.
‘Finally she calmed down, but they were anxious minutes. Though we were in a remote part of the citadel, I knew that at any moment we might easily be discovered. Luckily, no one came, but by now time was running out — I knew that in another half-hour, the gates of the citadel would be closed for the night. We had to get out quickly and in a way that would not attract attention. I’d noticed that towards dusk many of the traders who came each day to transact business in the citadel — there was much reprovisioning to be done now the siege was over — usually left to return to the city. I’d therefore ordered my men to bring robes and turbans so that all of us — including Maham Anga — could disguise ourselves as merchants. We had also brought thick sheepskins in which to wrap the boys to conceal them and a phial of rosewater mixed with opium to make them drowsy so they didn’t cry out. I ordered Maham Anga to give a little to each child. When she hesitated, I drank some myself to prove to her it wasn’t poison.
‘The opium did its work quickly and the children were docile as we wrapped the sheepskins around them. Then, leaving the guards securely locked in the storeroom to conceal Akbar’s disappearance for as long as possible, and after quickly pulling on our traders’ garb, we hurried through the citadel towards the gates to join the throng of people and beasts pouring down the ramp. No one challenged us. We made our way with the rest towards the town where, just outside the gates, more of my men were waiting with my horse and mules for the rest of the group. I hoped using mules would add to the impression that we were merchants not warriors. As darkness fell, we mounted up and headed north at first to conceal our true direction, just in case we were followed or spotted as we left the city. After riding through the freezing cold of the night, towards dawn we circled round to the east and with the sun rising in our faces began our journey to find you.’
As Hindal had been telling his story, his eyes had shone with an almost boyish excitement and exhilaration at succeeding in a difficult and dangerous task. Now that he had finished, Humayun felt a new and profound respect for his youngest half-brother — for his resourcefulness and coolness, his meticulous planning. Above all, what impressed him was how completely Hindal understood Kamran, exploiting his vanity to slip in under his defences. Hadn’t Babur always cautioned them, even as boys, to know their enemy? Hindal had plainly listened, but how well had he himself really understood the need to empathise with others — not just enemies but friends — even family? Had he always striven enough to understand Hindal and to see things from his perspective?
For a brief time the two of them had become close. Perhaps they might yet be so again. . The red wine he had drunk made his next words easier to say. ‘Hindal, you spoke just now of our boyhood in Kabul. We share so much, you and I, not just our blood and our heritage but so much of our past. My mother loved you as her own. Of all my half-brothers, you are the one I feel closest to and would wish to make my friend. I know that unwittingly — selfishly even — I injured you. For that I am truly sorry and ask your forgiveness. . ’ ‘Humayun. . ’
But determined not to let Hindal speak until he had finished, Humayun pressed on. ‘Can’t we put our past troubles behind us? Be my ally again and ride by my side to capture Kabul. The future holds so much for us if we are ready to seize it — one day Hindustan will be Moghul again and I will give you a position of power and honour there, I swear it. Hindal. . won’t you forgive me? Won’t you share that destiny with me?’
But Hindal was shaking his dark head. ‘I told you at our last meeting that we would never be reconciled and it was the truth. I’ve done what I promised and that’s an end of it. Your camp is no home to me. I’ve only lingered this long to make certain that I hadn’t been followed and brought Kamran down on you — and of course to have some time with my sister Gulbadan.’
‘Must it be like this?’
‘You still don’t understand me, do you? Like your mother you are greedy for what you want and do not like to be denied. She took me from my own mother with no concern for anyone’s happiness but her own. Now you want me to forget what’s passed between us — your unthinking arrogance and utter selfishness — and to play your loyal and loving brother again. I can’t do it. It would be a lie and I have too much self-respect.’
‘Hindal. . ’
‘No, Humayun. You have your wife and your son. Soon perhaps you will have a throne again. Isn’t that enough to satisfy you? Tomorrow at first light I will ride from here in search of the remainder of my men, whom I ordered to leave Kabul before Kamran returned. Once I find them, we will go once more into the mountains. I don’t know when — or in what circumstances — you and I will meet again. Perhaps never. . ’
Hindal paused. It seemed to Humayun that there was something more he wished to say but after a few moments his half-brother rose and without looking back made his way through the feasters and out through the tent flaps into the night.
Chapter 20
‘Majesty, they’ve poisoned the wells.’ It was one of Ahmed Khan’s scouts, the coat of his chestnut mare steaming in the cold as he rode across the snowy ground up to where Humayun was standing on the crest of a ridge looking towards Kabul. Although the snow was not yet melting, there’d been no fresh falls. That was one reason why he and his men had made such swift progress as they retraced their steps westward. Another was a renewed energy and sense of purpose. He sensed it in his men and felt it deep within himself.
‘Tell me more,’ he said.
‘We found dead and dying wild animals around the streams and wells nearest the citadel walls. The gates of the city and the citadel are closed against us and the walls of both are thick with defenders. They shot down one of our men who ventured too close.’
‘Test some of the wells and springs further away. Feed the water to some of those flea-bitten pariah dogs that scavenge around the edges of our camp. Until we find good water we can drink snow melted over our fires.’
By eight o’clock that evening, Humayun’s camp again spilled over the plains below Kabul and hundreds of camp fires glowed in the darkness as his men prepared their evening meal. Kamran’s troops had not done their work thoroughly. Humayun’s men had found supplies of untainted water only a mile from the walls of Kabul. Standing outside his command tent Humayun could see pinpricks of light high on the battlements of the citadel.Was
